A 20ft-tall naked man is once again surveying the people of Wigan, after previously being banned by the council.
The statue, nicknamed ‘Golden Balls’, had been erected outside a vintage shop until 2022, but had to be removed after neighbours complained.
It’s not quite Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer, but the store’s owner Grant Adamson, 60, said customers were ‘heartbroken’ when it had to be removed six months after appearing.
He has now put it back up in order to spread some ‘Christmas cheer’.
Wigan Council said they were ‘aware’ of its reappearance, and are assessing whether they need to take any action.
The striking gold statue is of a Roman Gladiator, and was once used to promote the Russell Crowe blockbuster on this theme in 2000.
You can now see it at Bulldog Forge, in Ince, Wigan, Greater Manchester.
There had been a campaign to bring back Golden Balls, with Facebook pages set up calling for the statue to be reinstated.
Grant Adamson said it had become a ‘landmark’: ‘People were always asking me when is he coming back so I decided to bring him out for Christmas.’
He had agreed to put the statue in storage in 2022, despite disputing the council’s claim that it needs planning permission as it is on his land, on a trailer which can be moved, and doesn’t protrude over his property boundary.
Posting on social media, many were delighted to see the heroic figure return, with one writing: ‘YESSSSSSSS FINALLY GOLDEN BALLS IS HOME LOL’
Another said: ‘Yaaaaay he used to brighten my day!’
Grant said: ‘It’s good for the business and good for the community.’
It’s not for long though, just to spread a little Christmas magic.
A Wigan Council spokesperson said: ‘We are aware that a large statue has been brought onto land at Darlington Street East, Ince, and are assessing whether any consent is needed from the council.’
‘On a previous occasion the council advised the landowner that the statue was in need of advertising consent.
‘It was subsequently removed by the landowner before any action was taken.’
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